This year’s topic of the CLF was to be “Flooding the Darkness with Light.” Several of the speakers and discussions strayed out of topic and centered on the issue of Church unity and ecumenism, a fine topic indeed, but one covered last year. Left uncovered was any mention of spiritual warfare – which most certainly will be the theme of next year’s CLF meeting.

The woman playing the violin is Ladonna Taylor, who has a special anointing in her music.

Two speakers were especially instrumental in shaping the course of the meeting and acting as vehicles of the Holy Spirit. The first was the Rev. Carolyn Moore. She is a Methodist pastor who has led the exodus of many orthodox Methodist churches out of the United Methodist Church and into the Global Methodist Church. Her presentation of the separation from the UMC especially touched me as I, as a former Episcopalian, was forced to tread the same route into the (orthodox) Anglican Church in North America.

Moore’s presentation was pertinent to many in the Church today. She described the decline and division of the UMC as the result of the ascendancy of Liberal theology which at its root denies the divinity of Jesus and the trustworthiness of scripture. For those embracing this movement, pluralism and inclusivity became more important concepts than upholding the unique claims of Jesus as the Son of God and Savior and other doctrines essential to Christianity. A great insight she shared was that ecumenical dialogue is good for the Church, as Christians get to understand and appreciate Christians in other denominations, but pluralism crosses the line into heresy by claiming that all viewpoints are equal and thus truth is unobtainable. This happened to the UMC (and to the Episcopal Church decades earlier).

Praying over Rabbi Marty

The second speaker and the one who made the greatest impact was Rabbi Marty Waldman. He refuses to call himself a Christian, rather he calls himself a Messianic Jew – a true Jew who believes in Jesus as his Messiah and the New Testament as part of the Word of God.

If you are a Christian leader of any stripe, pastor, youth leader, blogger, etc. make plans to attend next year’s CLF. They are held in late February, but check out the CLF website at CharismaticLeadersFellowship.org

Ask any number of Christians today, “Are you anti-Semitic?” and you will receive a resounding “no!” in response. Many churches and denominations embrace Israel and its place in these end days. In an age when biblical prophecy comes to pass almost daily, it is difficult to ignore the role of Israel and the Jewish community in end time events. Most believers today will tell you that they love the Jews and are, for the most part, pro-Israel.

This is well and good. Truly, we can see that God has many things yet to accomplish through the Jewish people.

However, the Spirit of the Lord is moving on many Christians, prompting them to repent of the sin of anti-Semitism. With a confessed pro-Israeli doctrine, this leaves many believers mystified, scratching their heads wondering, “Okay Lord, how?”

The general modus operendi is to look at current events. What have we committed or omitted that would prompt the Holy Spirit to reveal such a word of knowledge? Many look for clues in their government’s role during the World War II era, and its blind eye toward the plight of Europe’s Jewry. The Holocaust was a tragedy that goes beyond any tongue’s ability to describe. We watch death camp films and wonder if this is from what God wants us to repent. Certainly, if believers turned their heads and looked the other way, there is culpability and repentance is in order.

I believe there is more to it than governmental actions during the reign of the Third Reich. The “church”—as secular as it may have been over the centuries—has a long history of persecuting God’s Chosen People. Hundreds of years and millions of Jewish lives have been squandered in the name of “Christ.”

That was then, and this is now. It is my opinion that God is calling us to examine our churches and congregations. Is anti-Semitism in the camp? At first glance it is easy to say, “no.” But I think that if we scratch below the surface a little, we’ll find that all we have been applying is a secular standard to the question. Do we believe in the extermination of Jews? No. Do we agree with the Nazi “final solution?” No. In the post holocaust years, do we acknowledge that the Jews should have a Jewish homeland? Yes. Do we acknowledge that the Jews have been unfairly persecuted over the centuries and that this practice must not be allowed to darken our doors again—even in the smallest degree? Yes.

If these are our only definition of anti-Semitism, then we agree wholeheartedly with the United Nations and the Anti-defamation League.

What Definition Does God Use?

Does the Bible use a secular standard to measure godly principles? It does not. Though a good beginning, we cannot limit our definition of anti-Semitism to the world’s standard. If we do, we can only hope to create a surface, feel-good penitence that might make people feel like they are doing something, but will it accomplish true repentance? Will it accomplish all that God is looking for?

It seems that if we wish to be true to the Spirit’s calling, to be obedient to the call of the Most High God “to repent of anti-Semitism,” then our desire will be to willingly place ourselves on the examination table. Exploratory surgery is unpleasant, but is often the only way to get at the heart of some cancers.

Before we lay down on the table, however, we might do well to try and figure out who stands to gain if the body of Messiah is anti-Semitic, even in what may seem like insignificant matters.